I am looking at 4003TSW that does not have a rail. Is adding a rail an easy smithing job for S&W to do? Has anyone had this done to their gun? Thanks.

S&W has run differant frames for special orders, if it is a TSW series and had the two holes in the frame it shouldn't be any problem. I've run across new LE guns that haven't been drilled for the rails which still shouldn't be a problem, but I've also seen some that have the old style rounded dust cover frame that will not work.

I put a short rail on top of our model 66 and used one that was cut in half, more or less. I removed the adjustable rear sight and the two holes matched perfectly with the holes in the rail. The rail was steel and matched the top of the frame well. We have a red dot sight on the gun which we use for target shooting and so far has never come loose.

Search a well stocked gun shop and they usually have a large selection of rails and one should fit.

That depends upon if the frame was made in the pre-rail period. The dustcover for rail guns is significantly thicker to take the stress imposed by whatevers hung on the rail. I'd check with the Performance Center and have your serial number handy.

I talked to S&W after they came out with rails and they stated that they couldn't/wouldn't mount the rail on the older frame, it wouldn't stand the load. The dustcover has to be counterbored for the rivets, which requires more metal.

If you've just gotta do it on an older frame, this leaves you with 2 choices: get a stainless rail and have it tig welded on by an expert or use a combination of screws and epoxy to install it.

This makes sense. I just got the gun two days ago and perhaps I'll just leave it the way it came from the factory. Thanks for the replies.